help the school set high standards by planning for the school’s future and setting targets for school development

keep the pressure up on school improvement

be a critical friend to the school, offering support and advice

help the school respond to the needs of the parents and the community

make the school accountable to the public for what it does

work with the school on planning, developing policies and keeping the school under review

exercise its responsibilities and powers in partnership with the headteacher and staff

not intervene in the day-to-day management of the school

A school’s governing body is a corporate body. This means that it has a legal existence separate from that of its individual members. As long as governors have acted honestly, without ulterior motive, and reasonably, within the law and regulations, the governing body can’t be held to account as individuals for any liabilities by the governing body.